In memory of Rita Dees

September 29, 2019

Rita M. Kubat Dees, age 89, peacefully passed away on September 26, 2019 in Enid, Oklahoma with her daughter Jo by her side.

She was born September 22, 1930 in Okeene, Oklahoma as the youngest child and only daughter of Joseph and Edith (Donahoe) Kubat. After she graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in Okeene in 1949, her family moved to Enid.

While in Enid, she worked for the phone company. There she met William Dees, who was an airman stationed at Vance AFB, was married, had four children and travelled around different Air Force bases in the United States for the next 26 years. After retiring from the Air Force, they lived in Austin, Texas until Rita moved back to Okeene to be reconnected with her classmates, family, and her best friend Dorothy Roach.

Rita was a tall, beautiful, strong willed, intelligent, witty, insightful, fearless, and observant feminist throughout all of her life. She loved finding treasures at yard sales and collecting and restoring antiques. She was also a cat lover and never stopped feeding strays or taking in hurt animals. She had a wicked sense of humor and she will be greatly missed.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Edith Kubat; two brothers Joe and James “Bill” Kubat; her daughter Mary Beth Dees; and the father of her children, William Dees.

Rita is survived by her children: Edith Dees of Poland, Maine, William (Kathy) Dees of Austin, Texas, and Josephine Dees of Okeene, Oklahoma; one granddaughter Rebecca (Aaron) Thompson of Chengdu, China; two great granddaughters Bridget and Mary Beth Thompson; special nephews Joseph Kubat of Williamsburg, Virginia and Jim Kubat of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and many other nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at the St. Anthony’s of Padua Catholic Church in Okeene, Oklahoma. She will be buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Okeene, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, Rita requested donations to your local Humane Society.